Tuesday, March 23, 2010

A Mother's Admiration

Hi Knitters,

While I was gone in New York I called home off and on to check in with everyone. One time The Collector got on the phone and announced that she had made a moose and she couldn't wait to show it to me when I got home. This same moose conversation went on a couple of different times over the days while I was gone. I didn't quite understand what she had made over the phone because my husband said she had just sat down with some kitchen aluminum foil and masking tape to make this moose. It didn't sound all that promising.

However, when I got home TC greeted me at the door with her sculpted moose. I was stunned. It is an incredibly elegant and beautiful sculpture of a moose. At that time it was sculpted foil covered in masking tape. I couldn't believe the long legs that stood in such a lovely stance, the balance of the piece (it stands so easily), the sweet tilt of the head and the amazing antlers she had created while sitting at the kitchen table.TC may be a sculptor? I had no idea she could do this. My husband told me she got it in her head to make a moose. He had no idea why. She then pulled up a photo of a real moose on the computer and would occasionally walk over to reference the photo as she worked. I guess she worked for a long time, very quietly by herself. When she finished her sculpture my husband couldn't believe her moose. He just shakes his head in disbelief.Since my initial viewing of the moose TC has put a layer of newspaper and Mod Podge over the top to create a hard shell. She wants to paint it this weekend. I can't get a great photo to capture the feeling of the sculpture accurately. It is really cool. Maybe I am crazy but I see something more to that moose than just the foil and tape and newspaper.Here are a few other pieces of TC's artwork as of late. This brother and sister pair is her art teacher's favorite drawing that TC has made at school. I like it, too. It's so graphic and look at the careful strokes of crayon she used to fill in the grass and sky. I love crayon artwork.She made this silly ladybug by combining some other pictures she had seen. She pronounces the name like Betty, not sure what the interesting spelling is all about. I like this one a lot. She has super-clean lines. The heels are too good.This is a woven piece TC created at school. They splatter painted two different pages, cut them into strips and wove the strips together. I really love this one.She dropped this in my lap yesterday after school. This may be my favorite. She doesn't see at all what I see. I think that pig is amazing and artistic. I asked her about it and she said, "Yeah, I ripped up some paper and made a pig." That's it. I see the curly tail made out of teeny tiny pieces carefully placed, the tip and angle of the ears layered on the perfectly shaped head and round ripped piece at the end of the snout. I love the simple pencil letters spelling Pig at the top.

I know I may be seeing her work through rose-colored glasses but I admire her abandon. I love her ability to make things out of nothing and to sit for hours on end completely absorbed in her making. The world vanishes around her. I love her nonchalant attitude about her work. I love her sweet excitement when her ideas work out. I see her natural finesse and her ability to make it all look so easy.

This little girl is a maker down to her soul. I can't wait to see what she does with her natural talent. I am a bystander.

I hope she never loses sight of what she has inside. I admire her so much.

54 comments:

Kerry
said...

I think that moose is unbelievable... truly, it is so artistic, and to have been made from kitchen foil?? Waow. I also love the fact that children put their little souls into what they're doing and the finished product is so innocent and clean and without guile or pretence. I think your daughter is very talented, and she seems like such a sweet girl.

TC is amazingly talented! I agree with what another person said, she gets her talent and creativity from her mama. Thank you for sharing her work for all of us to see. What a gift she has; it's easy to see why you're so proud of her.

TC is really rockin' the free world! Free style art that is. Thanks for sharing the photos of her amazing masterpieces. My favorite is the woven piece. It looks like a sun-filled sky to me. Rock on, TC! --Ramona

I have worked with artists for about 12 years. Artists whose work have adorned the White House, museums, their work in galleries. TC's eye is incredible. She is a natural. That moose looks like it was plucked out of Alaska. And her pig, the whimsy. I agree with you, Susan, THAT TAIL! I can't wait to see her moose completed. Actually, I thought it was done in the first photo. AMAZING. TC is an artist we will be hearing about and seeing her work for years to come.

T.C. has done a beautiful job capturing the nuances of movement with her moose and pig. They are both so lifelike. The energy in her pieces is magical. Thank you for allowing us to admire her work as well. Kids are the best.

I love to watch children create, and I love their little masterpieces. Kids aren't afraid to take risks (kitchen foil and tape to create a moose sculpture? why not?!?!), and they aren't hindered by the fear of failure like adults. Your daughter is a gifted artist ... keep on encouraging her to create!

What an absolutely stunning sculpture TC has made! I can't tell you how this touched my heart today when I saw it. My late grandmother used to collect moose things and last week while on break in CO, my sister, mom & I scoured all the moose art around us. If I had seen something like this during our excursion, I would have snatched it up off the shelf. She captured "moose essence!" Thank you so much for sharing this!

TC's work is lovely and insightful. It seems that her art is who she is and we all stand by by and watch it emerge. The moose is my favorite. Having a mom who sees the best in her and encourages her is priceless. We love how you love her.

Such amazing art! REally, everyone of the pieces is great! My favorite part of your story is her choice of materials....who just comes up with masking tape and foil as sculpting media? And who just has a moose pop into their head....at the end of March? A gal with endless talent and a wide open artist mind!

TC Rocks! But what I love....is that you are so enthusiastically posting about TC and her amazing talents. Thank you once again for sharing a little bit of your wonderful life and family with us, your readers...Love,Sara

That moose is amazing! I just dragged my daughters (both artists too) out of bed to see it. (It's morning - they needed to get up - but what a nice way to start the day!) They love it too. I'm astounded by the way she really captures the moosey-ness of the moose. I don't know how my kids do it either (tho' neither of them have attempted something so outrageous as that moose!) It just makes my jaw drop when they manage it. It's like an ongoing show, isn't it? Yay for kids! Hooray for artists everywhere!!!

I would pay to have that moose! You are definitely raising a natural artist. I have one too, but she is 12 and doesn't recognize her talent. Frustrating. Especially as she approaches the age where what the Mom knows pales in comparison to what the world thinks.

Hi, SusieI just read your post about TC's moose and artwork. It left me goosebumpily and joyful. I am a former art director from Buffalo and presently a yarn shop owner. As a child, I created similar artwork to hers, but she has so much more innate talent...I truly pray she never changes. I, like you, see the incredible feeling in her pieces.I wanted to thank you for sharing this blog with all of us outsiders. I never had a daughter ...was blessed with 3 wonderful sons...how nice of you to allow so many fans a peek into your daily joys.Tell TC she is a truly great sculptor...I want a casting of the moose when she takes it to the bronze stage!Much love and admiration to you and yours.If you're ever in Destin, Florida,drop in for a visit. Carol from Destin

She is indeed, talented! No rose-colored glasses, mom... she's truly an artist. My daughter is a trained artist and attended the Savannah College of Art and Design, and I'm sure would be very impressed!

As an artist, I think the moose is incredible. Your daughter has a lot of talent. She is going to have a wonderful future. I love her other drawings and designs too. Its obvious that she inherited your talent.

She has several gifts...no doubt. First, she is very talented and has a wonderful imagination. Second, she's growing up with a mom who encourages and nourishes that creativity as an important part of her life. What a lucky little girl!

I work at an art school - a major rival of aforementioned Savannah College of Art and Design.. :) I showed the pictures to a couple students who happened to be in my office when I was reading your blog.. they were very impressed. Perhaps I'll see TC here one day!

Florida Family of Four has left a new comment on your post "A Mother's Admiration":

I work at an art school - a major rival of aforementioned Savannah College of Art and Design.. :) I showed the pictures to a couple students who happened to be in my office when I was reading your blog.. they were very impressed. Perhaps I'll see TC here one day!

The artwork is fabulous. Her proportions are right on! (No easy feat for any artist). And I love the whimsy of her creations. As a watercolorist, I see incredible potential here... Isn't it great to be a parent and watch as our children grow and follow their hearts? And we get to come along for the ride, how great is that?!!

It's amazing how talented your daughter is. She is also in a very nurturing environment, I'd imagine, which will hopefully continue to cultivate this talent. My sisters were all very artistic but alas they never really got the encouragement to do anything with it.

you are right. there is something about the gesture of that moose that is incredible! btw, i hope it's okay that i linked to this post of yours on my blog, it has given me great insight (http://susanbanderson.blogspot.com/2010/01/hop.html). so thank you for that!!!

I know exactly what this feels like...both of my daughters are incredible "makers", creatives to the core. The best of wishes to your daughter! May she never let anyone's thoughtless comments steer her away from the passion to create!

I wasn't sure if you accepted blog awards or not. But I had to give you one because of all the sweet and wonderful creations you come up with for everyone. Thanks for all your hard work. If you want to post it, pop over and get the picture for it. :)

Awesome moose! I had a friend in the 6th grade who made the most amazing sculpture out of clay (a woman singing from the shoulders up) when the rest of us class mates made silly, simple things like coil pots. This friend grew up to go to art school and became an amazing water color artist! TC's got some talent! Thanks for sharing!

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